Seven passenger jets and an Israel-bound cruise ship are searched across Europe after a wave of bomb threats

No explosives were found on any of the targeted aircraft or the cruise ship, but the wave of hoax threats forced planes to divert mid-flight, grounded one airliner until midday and left crews and aircraft stranded at the wrong airports. At least seven flights were hit across Italy, Spain, Bulgaria and Poland, with two departing from UK airports — London Heathrow and Manchester — among those disrupted.

A LOT Polish Airlines Boeing diverted to Warsaw Modlin with 181 passengers aboard after a bomb threat mid-flight from London Heathrow.

An Israel-bound cruise ship in a Greek port was evacuated and swept by security teams after a separate bomb threat targeting the vessel.

Aviation expert Anton Radchenko warned that even passengers on unthreatened flights could face delays if affected aircraft are stuck out of position or crews breach permitted working hours.